Wichita eagle., 1887-05-12
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A JAPANESE FAMILY.
ANOBLE FATHER, A TENDER MOTHER
AND LOVELY CHILDREN.


Careful Training of the Sons and Daugh-
ters-several Interesting Customs-Rev-
erent Beliefs of Many Gencrations-A
Pile of Charms.
In this home an ex-daimio and family
dwelled, with whom I exchanged frequent
Inequalities during my sojourn in Japan.
As I was one Of the family in which the
daimio's youngest brother and eldest son
had found home while pursuing their
education in America, 1 was cordially re-
ceived by the ex-prince in turn. The fam
ily then consisted of his wife, two little
girls, two grown daughters, and three sons
One baby-and the grandmother of these
children "a charming old lady three
nurses, and large retinue of servants.
The father was a noble specimen of devo-
ton to his country, yet, withal, an apostle
of progress lie was one of the many who
had consented TO the destruction Of the old
government, and had voluntarily yielded
his revenues and title without murmur,
for the public good. The lady mother and
eldest daughter were peers of the ladies of
any land in their love of beauty, ornament,
elegant dress, and neatness, AMI in their
skill in household management, as wei as in
those social amenities and tactics of polite
circles that etiquette prescribes.
This mother was as strong in tenderness,
patience and long suffering for and with her
children as her European or American sis
ters; and equally faithful and assiduous in
their training and education according to
her knowledge She taught her daughters
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three fundamental duties of woman are
obedience to her parents when child, ODE
dience to her husband when married, and
obedience to her eldest son, if she becomes a
widow.
She also instructed them from the Japan
csc Ladies' Library, which is compen-
dunn of the moral and physical duties of
woman 1t includes the subjects of house
hold and social management, rules for the
strictest etiquette, a guide to letter writ
ing, proverbs, poems from a hundred au-
thors, memoirs of noble women, and order
ing for the whole conduct of life They
were likewise taught to read the standard
histories of Japan in Chinese characters, and
both boys and girls were thoroughly drilled
in the traditioaary heroic and mythology
cal lore OF their own land
and exploits, and their ambition fired by
historic tales Of heroes. They were urged
to overcome obstacles, by the symbol over
the massive outer door, where swung the
huge paper carp suspended from q bamboo
pole, ever reminding the youth OF Japan how
the carp caps the waterfall These lads
were also t,.Ught natural sciences and mill
tary tactics, from English and Dutch au-
iy,3 Jai,. hoIE I1rl. r
found them constructing miniature earth
works, by the aid of book diagram and
trowel
Then came the tutor with lessons in fenc-
ing and wrestling, and tho use of cross
spears and swords, ii the handling of which
they became marVeloCsly expert The father
instructed the sons in the Chinese classics
himself and stimulated their young souls
by tales Of classic lore.
One OF tie interesting customs | thus
learned Of IL the life Of this house was that
of the many festivals-the Feast Of the
Dolls for the daughters of the house, when
year after year the great nursery was
decked with blooming bows, and the many
toys in which Japan abounds, while pretty
mimic life OF motherhood and housekeeping
prevailed for one whole day; OF the Feast
out in triumph to the streets, with enblaz-
oned banners to enact a mimic war; of the
New Years day, when prince and retain,
ers, maste, and servants, pledged anew
their devotion 20 each other, and recei ed
gifts Of good things; of the religious Ges-
rivals, when the masters household, like
great heart, beat for the birth and death,
the joy and sorrow, of his tenantry
Here for two centuries, the daughters
of the house had been given in marriage,
without spoken vow or priestly rite; but by
gift and sons, dance and cheer, began their
new career From thence had gone out
the father to Yeddo or Fukui on public or
private business-the sons for education
and culture, the daughters for travel or re-
ligious duty. These walls had echoed with
songs and laughter, with cries and sobs.
Here, in time Of bereavement in the ora
tory of the house where the sacred lights
and incense burn, one after another black
tablet was set, gilt-lcttered, to be honored
by later generations.
In the path by the old shrine, made sa-
cred by the reverert beliefs of generations,
I took my iinal leave of this interesting
family. 1 asked for a memento from its
hallowed contents, and the eZ-prince gave
me case Of light wood, containing an
amulet written in Sanskrit and Chinese, for
the protection of this ancient house; and
as l passed out Of the great gate stood
under q pile of charms a foot in thickness,
which had been added year by year, to
ward off sickness and harm-Helen S. H.
Thompson in Overland Monthly.